Please read the staff report on the Mission Service Work Camp 2025 in Cambodia.

Dates： August 1 to 8, 2025  
Location： Phnom Penh in Cambodia 

From August 1 to 8, we conducted the Mission Service Work Camp in a suburb of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with 12 participants—mainly university students—from Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea. 
Same as last year, we worked at Hope Vocational School and learned about the various mission activities carried out by the United Methodist Mission Office in Cambodia. 

Hope Vocational School is a vocational training center for young people in Cambodia which is a joint project between the Korean NGO “Bridge of Hope” and General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) of the United Methodist Church. Wesley Zaidan also supports the educational activities as part of a global partnership project. The school now offers classes in English, Korean, and computer programming, and is going to launch technical training courses in barista skills and beauty skills. 

Last summer, the school building was still under construction, and it was completed later that year. When we visited again this year, we were amazed by how much the school building had changed since last summer. At a site behind the building, a deck is planned to be constructed, where students will be able to relax and hang out in the future. As preparation for that, we installed sandbags to prevent flooding from the adjacent marsh and leveled the entire area.  

[Day 1] 

We held an opening worship service and orientation, during which participants got to know each other and with Cambodian staffs. Afterwards, the director of the United Methodist Mission Office in Cambodia gave a presentation on the mission activities of the United Methodist Church. Each staff member then provided details about their respective areas of work. The following mission activities were introduced: 

・Hope Vocational School (Skills training center) 
・Susanna Wesley House (Dormitory for female university students) 
・Shine Project (Skills training project for women) 
・Cambodian Students and Children Fund Organization (A facility for children in underserved areas of Phnom Penh) 
・CHAD (Community Health and Agricultural Development — sustainable community support through agricultural and health education) 
・Project ARK (Construction skills training project) 

We also heard from a Global Mission Fellow (GMF) of the United Methodist Church who had been sent from Laos to Cambodia. She shared about her daily life and work as a GMF. 

In the evening, we visited Azahar Cambodia, where we participated in a yoga lesson and learned about the organization. The Azahar Foundation is an international nonprofit organization that promotes transformation and healing in post-conflict communities through yoga, mindfulness, and the arts. Azahar Cambodia runs programs that help young people with trauma recover and train to become yoga instructors. The instructor who led the lesson that day also shared her personal journey of overcoming trauma through yoga, which left a lasting impression on us. 

Each night during the camp, we had a “Reflection” time to look back on the day. Everyone shared their thoughts and feelings, and it became a valuable opportunity for deep learning and personal insight. 
 

[Day 2]  

In the morning, we attended worship at Phnom Penh Prek Toal Methodist Church, where the participants sang hymns during the worship service. In the afternoon, after enjoying some sightseeing at the Russian Market, we visited Susanna Wesley House. 

There, the dorm mother, Ms. Reasey explained about the dormitory, and Ms. Youlika ,a graduate of the dorm and current staff member, explained about the Shine Project. We learned that the dorm is more than just a place to live—it’s a place where the students support each other and grow as individuals. 

The Shine Project was a skills training program for young women at first, but now it has expanded to include divorced women as well. We also listened to the story of a program participant who became a dance teacher, and through her story, we felt her joy of living an independent life. 

After that, the participants interacted with the dorm students through crafts and dance, then shared a meal together and enjoyed conversations. They talked about their future goals and academic aspirations. For the Japanese participants, talking with the dorm students—who study with clear purpose—was deeply inspiring. 
 

[Day 3] 

We began the main service activities (labor work) at Hope Vocational School. On the first day, the task was to fill sandbags using shovels. Though the participants struggled with tough labor under the scorching sun, they worked hard. 

In the afternoon, Ms. Delecia, the principal, gave us a briefing about the school. She shared that 82 students had completed the first term, which ended in May, and that the second term had started with 114 students. Classes are also held in the evenings to accommodate students who want to improve their English and computer skills for university entrance exams or employment opportunities, as well as those who wish to use English in their workplaces. 

Missionary Mr. Patrick also gave an explanation about Project ARK. This project teaches construction skills to survivors of human trafficking to support their independence, while also functioning as a preventative initiative to reduce the risk of human trafficking in the first place. 

At that time, we had the opportunity to hear directly from a couple who had participated in Project ARK. The husband joined the program, acquired construction skills, and was eventually able to secure a more stable job. He now also works as a facility manager at the school. His wife received barista training and now works as a barista at the school café, while also taking on responsibilities in facility management. 
Previously, the couple had to leave their children in the care of their own parents while they traveled around the country working as day laborers, taking any job which they could find without having specific skills. They shared their joy in now being able to live together with their children, thanks to the vocational skills they gained through the program. 

We also heard from Mr. Chey Piseth, a Project ARK staff member, who shared his powerful motivation: because he himself knows firsthand the struggles of coming from a rural area to Phnom Penh with no support, he is deeply committed to helping others in the same situation. His words encouraged us a lot. 

We then moved to Jars of Clay Café and had dinner there. This restaurant was established by a British missionary and provides a workplace where women can gain cooking skills while earning a living. 
The employees include former victims of human trafficking, widows, and women from rural areas where gender discrimination is still deeply rooted. More recently, a couple who lost their jobs due to the conflict with Thailand was also hired. 
The owner said that she came to faith in Christ after going through a difficult personal journey. Through her work at the café, she was able to reclaim her dignity, and she now helps the staff who face similar hardships wholeheartedly. Her presence was filled with love, kindness, and energy in Christ. 

[Day 4]  

In the morning, we helped sort clothing donated by the Korean Methodist Church in addition to labor work. These clothes will be sold as reused items, and the proceeds will be used to support those involved with Hope Vocational School. In the afternoon, we visited the Killing Fields and learn about the horrific history under the Pol Pot regime. 

[Day 5]  

After the morning’s labor work, we visited the Cambodian Students and Children Fund Organization, a facility located in an underserved area of Phnom Penh that supports children from preschool to early elementary school age. All the teachers are volunteers who dedicate their time to educating the children. We interacted with about 60 children through origami and games, enjoying a time of joyful exchange. 

[Day 6] 

It was the final day of labor work. We completed the task of leveling the entire site and finished by laying sand mixed with cement. After work, we expressed our gratitude to the crew by sharing a song and letters and enjoyed a meal together. 

In the afternoon, we visited the Cambodia office of UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund). We learned about an app development project supported by Wesley Zaidan aimed at preventing gender-based violence and deepened our understanding of human rights issues in Cambodia, such as gender inequality in education, child marriage, and domestic violence. 

In the evening, we had dinner at a restaurant along the Mekong River and stopped by the night market. 

[Final Day] 
 
We held a closing worship service and a final reflection session. Each participant shared their thoughts on what they had learned through the camp, as well as the actions they hope to take in the future. This time, the Mission Service Work Camp offered a valuable opportunity to learn more about the mission activities of the United Methodist Church. We are also grateful to have been able to continue supporting the development of Hope Vocational School. 

Wesley Zaidan will continue to organize the Mission Service Work Camps as part of ongoing international programs.  

This year, military conflicts between the Cambodian and Thai armies near their border occurred just before the camp, putting its implementation at risk. However, thanks to the dedicated support of our Cambodian staff, the camp was successfully held. We express our deepest gratitude to all staff members.